Secondary Science Simplified™ (Rebecca Joyner, High School Science Teacher)
Explore every episode of Secondary Science Simplified™
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Jan 2023 | 55. Goal Setting for the New Year - a Different Approach | 00:27:44 | |
New year, new goals! That’s what we always hear, right? For some, this goal setting energy is exhilarating but for others, it’s just exhausting! Whatever your feelings are about new year goal setting, I have a three step approach to goal setting for this year that will make it seem much more manageable. I recently read “The Lazy Genius Way” by Kendra Adachi and it totally inspired me! I used what I took away from that book to create a realistic approach to setting goals so that I actually follow through with them and I am sharing that approach with you. I am sharing the importance of focusing on what really matters to you when you set your goal, why you should start small, and how focusing your goals on your life instead of your job is the best way to go about setting goals. Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode55 | |||
| 05 Sep 2022 | 38. A Beginning of the year PEP TALK | 00:16:17 | |
The school year is approaching and we could all use a pep talk, especially after the past 3 years! We know this school year is filled with more unknowns and we’re running on empty before the year even starts. But I’m here to pump you up and get you excited for the start of school! This is a much-needed pep talk, not only for secondary science teachers, but for all teachers! I am sharing why teaching is a job and not your whole life, why you don’t need to be on-call all the time, the importance of giving yourself and students grace, and why we should take this year one day at a time. You are valuable and what you are doing is valuable! So this year, focus on showing your students that you care about them and you care about what you are teaching. You’ve got this, Teacher-Friend! Know a teacher who could really use a pep talk? I’d love for you to share this episode with them and pass on the encouragement and pump each other up for another school year! Resources: Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode38 | |||
| 19 Dec 2022 | 53. School Counselor Partnerships, Life Hacks, and Laughter with Guest Lauren Tingle | 01:01:23 | |
Did this year fly by for anybody else? I cannot believe it’s winter break and we’re already at the end of 2022! Winter break is a time to rest, recharge, and have fun. One of my best friends, Lauren Tingle of the Counselor Clique, is here today and bringing great advice and some laughter to all of us to wrap up the year. She is talking life hacks, self-care, teacher-counselor partnerships, and so much more! You know how much I love giving you tips to help simplify your life inside the classroom so I thought it would be perfect for us to share ways to simplify your life outside of the classroom as well. In this episode, Lauren and I are talking a bit about school related topics like what it’s like working with friends, why teachers should partner with counselors, Lauren’s best and worst experiences with teachers, and the importance of setting boundaries. Since most of you are on break right now, we wanted to share tips to help you rest and recharge during breaks, life hacks that will serve your future self, and 3 things that are saving our lives right now and may help simplify your life as well! Resources Mentioned: Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode53 | |||
| 20 Feb 2023 | 62. 5 Ways to Instantly Make Your Planning Period More Productive | 00:25:01 | |
How are we supposed to have a work/life balance when we have a million things to do on a daily basis and a 45 minute (or 90 minute if you’re lucky!) planning time to get them all done? Finding ways to have the most productive planning period possible is essential to working only your contracted hours and having a life outside of work. If you’re not sure where to start, I’m sharing my 5 best tips for optimizing your planning period so work can stay at work. At one point, I was working about 60 hours a week. 60 hours! Once I figured out how to maximize the effectiveness of my planning period, I was able to cut down my working hours to only my contracted time and finally have the work/life balance I needed. If you’re ready to take control of your planning period and use the little time you have to the fullest, I have some tips for you! I am giving you 5 specific things you can do TODAY to maximize the effectiveness of your planning period. I am sharing how to shut out external distractions, what to do to avoid wasting this time on things that will throw off your focus, how to force yourself to focus on what needs to be done, and what to do to ensure you are getting everything that needs to be done, done. These tips are super easy to implement and can help you be more productive right away! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode62 | |||
| 09 Jan 2023 | 56. Scheduling Rest – Why You Need to and How To Do It | 00:23:55 | |
Do you actively schedule time for rest or are you running at full speed 24/7? We often get so caught up in doing as much as possible and having everything scheduled out that we don’t leave any time to rest. Let’s be honest, that isn’t healthy or sustainable. So today, we’re talking about why you need to schedule rest and how to actually do it when you feel like you have absolutely zero time.
I’ve previously shared how much I took away from reading “The Lazy Genius Way” by Kendra Adachi. One thing she discusses is scheduling rest and I think this is so, so important! We aren’t meant to be going nonstop with no time to recharge. I want to be sure you’re taking the time you need to rest so I am sharing why it is so important to actually schedule rest, how to schedule rest, and what to consider when you are scheduling time to rest into your schedule.
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode56 | |||
| 06 Jun 2022 | 25. The Importance of Proactivity | 00:28:04 | |
During my first few years as a teacher, I developed some bad habits simply because I had so much to learn that could not be taught in a teacher certification program. There’s only so much you can learn about theories or even from shadowing other teachers. Eventually, you just have to jump in and learn things the hard way, doing the best you can to manage all of the things. On top of figuring it out as you go, you have an audience of teenagers judging you along the way. I created survival mechanisms just to get by during those first years, and they became bad habits that I had to break. Thankfully, I learned some things through experience and the wisdom of other teachers. In each episode this month, I’ll share a teacher habit that I’ve learned along the way that I wish I had started my first year. In today’s episode, we talk specifically about the importance of proactivity and how being proactive as a teacher can save you so much time and energy in the long run, especially when it comes to interactions with our students and their parents and guardians. We’ll talk briefly about lab day prep. Then we’ll spend the majority of the episode talking about proactivity with parents. There’s still time to sign up for my FREE live virtual professional development workshop called 3 Secrets to Stress-Free Lab Days happening this summer. Be sure to reserve your seat! Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode25 | |||
| 04 Jul 2022 | 29. Student-Centered Pedagogy: What it is | 00:26:02 | |
Ready to get off the stage and be in the audience with your students during your classes? That’s what we’re diving into in this new series focusing on student centered pedagogy. We’re talking about everything you need to know about shifting your pedagogy to be more student centered. Today, we are looking at what student centered pedagogy is and what it isn’t. We revisit transforming our teaching from one dimensional to three dimensional and becoming more of a facilitator than a lecturer in our lessons. We break down common misconceptions and address some fears you may be having about letting students take more control of their learning. I give you some examples of how I implement student centered pedagogy while still having structure and a plan - because we all know how much I love planning ahead! If you’re wondering how to move your students from passive to active learning so the content can be more meaningful to them, this episode is for you! Don’t forget to grab your free Classroom Reset Challenge and check out my TpT store for resources to help you simplify your life as a secondary science teacher! Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode29 | |||
| 20 Jun 2022 | 27. How the Secondary Science Simplified Course Helped This New Teacher with Guest Rachel Carter | 00:18:29 | |
“Do it! What are you waiting for…it’s a game changer! It’s made my life so much easier.” This is the message today’s guest, Rachel Carter wants to share with everyone who is considering enrolling for the Secondary Science Simplified Course, which is now open for enrollment! This month, I’ve shared secrets and habits I learned the hard way in my teaching career that I wish I had known when I first started teaching. These experiences formed the foundational lessons in the Secondary Science Simplified Course. After learning from my mistakes, I truly love all things related to simplifying our jobs and lives, and I am passionate about sharing how to do that with other teachers. In today’s episode, I’m interviewing Rachel Carter, one of the teachers who took the course with me last summer after her 2nd year of teaching. You’ll hear how taking the course impacted her as a newer educator in the field. If you’re wondering how the course has impacted a more experienced educator, be sure to listen to episode 24 where I interviewed Nikki Pryor, who has been teaching for 14 years. If you’ve been on the fence about enrolling for the Secondary Science Simplified Course, these 2 interviews provide a lot of insight into the benefits of the course and the supportive community we have created. The course only opens once a year in the summer, and the last day to sign up is June 23, 2022, so be sure to check it out! Join the Secondary Science Simplified Course Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode27 | |||
| 27 Feb 2023 | 63. Teaching and ADHD - Practical Tips for You AND Your Students with Guest Bri Plyler | 00:56:18 | |
Students and teachers with ADHD have unique struggles and challenges when it comes to work and school tasks. Whether you are a teacher who has ADHD or you have students who have ADHD, understanding how different strategies may help can be incredibly beneficial. I am no expert in ADHD so I am so grateful that Bri Plyler is joining us today to share some amazing information on ADHD in the secondary science classroom. We all likely know someone who has ADHD, diagnosed or not, so having a better understanding of how it may affect people and strategies to help is so important. In this episode, Bri is sharing her career history and background, some ADHD markers, actionable tips for teachers and students with ADHD, and recommendations specifically for helping secondary science teachers tackle everything on their plate. Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode63 | |||
| 27 Jun 2022 | 28. Using Summer Productively | 00:24:43 | |
Summer is here which means you can finally rest after the long and demanding school year! We know the routine - hurry, stress, and go, go, go all school year so when summer comes, we just want to relax, recharge, and unplug. And we should! But if you’re anything like me, you need something to work on to keep you in some sort of routine. In this episode, I discuss how to make the most of your restful summer by setting small, manageable goals so that you can be more prepared going back to school. I give you 3 easy to work on goals that will help cut down on the stress that fall often brings. You’ll hear about using your increased mental clarity and creativity to make adjustments for next year, completing a task that you just don’t have time for during the school year, and checking a must-do task off your list that is low pressure and doesn’t require much energy from you. If you’re interested in PD in the summer, I have my own professional development course that I have created specifically for secondary science teachers. Enrollment has ended for this year’s summer session but I would love for you to join the waitlist so you know when I offer it again. You can sign up for the waitlist here.I would love to see you there! In the meantime, check out my other resources to help simplify your school year. Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode28 | |||
| 06 Feb 2023 | 60. Teaching with Packets - What They Are, Why I Love Them, and How to Use Them | 00:37:36 | |
It’s almost Valentine’s Day so I knew I needed to share with you all about love at first sight! It may be a bit cheesy, but when I was first introduced to teaching with packets, I knew it was love at first sight and I’ve never looked back. In this episode, I am sharing all the information you need to decide if teaching with packets is something you want to try with your classes. I am diving into what packets are and what is included in these packets, what teaching with packets looks like, ten reasons I absolutely love teaching with packets, and what resources can help you to create your own packets. Be sure to grab your FREE Valentine’s Day themed high school science activities! These activities are perfect for engaging your students in a fun and worthwhile learning experience. There is one activity specifically for each subject - biology, anatomy, physics, and chemistry. Grab them today and send me a DM or email me at rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com when you use them with your students! I love to hear from you all when you use these free resources! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode60 | |||
| 21 Feb 2022 | 10. Balancing Multiple Preps: How to Manage Grading | 00:24:32 | |
Balancing multiple preps can be one of the most challenging things for a secondary science teacher to do, but it’s possible to simplify and reduce the stress of balancing multiple preps. Two of the biggest struggles for balancing multiple preps are lesson planning and grading. In episode 9, I shared my 5 best tips for how to lesson plan for three or more preps. Be sure to go back and catch that episode because it will save you so much time and make your life with multiple preps so much easier. In today's episode, we're going to specifically address struggle number two, which is grading for all of those preps. Check out the show notes for all the resources in this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode10 | |||
| 11 Jul 2022 | 30. Student-Centered Pedagogy: Why Make the Shift | 00:15:20 | |
Better serving your students while less is required of you? Sounds amazing, right? If you’re ready to make that happen, today’s episode is for you! We are continuing our new summer series on revamping our pedagogy to make it more student centered and this is an episode you don’t want to miss! We have all heard that students learn best by doing, not by hearing. I know it can seem overwhelming to make the shift from lecture-style, teacher-centered teaching to student centered teaching, but it can have such a huge impact on both students and teachers. In today’s episode, we are looking at how to prevent opposition and student apathy, the importance of equipping our students to be independent learners and critical thinkers, and how taking us out of the center stage leaves more room for us to better serve our students. We will be covering how to shift our pedagogy in the next 2 episodes. Until then, check out my FREE classroom reset challenge that walks you through five tasks you can complete to help you be more prepared for the school year. Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode30 | |||
| 18 Apr 2022 | 18. What to Do After End of Year Testing with Students | 00:17:47 | |
What do you do with that awkward, random amount of time you have after end-of-year testing is over? Whether you have 3 days or 3 weeks left till the last day of school, energy this time of year is at an all-time low, and senioritis is running rampant, even if you don’t teach seniors! This last year has been especially challenging for so many teachers, and I totally understand if you’re just ready to breathe a sigh of relief that the testing is over and summer break is almost here. You and your students have worked hard to get here, and you all deserve to rest and relax. If you’re not ready to throw in the towel yet and want to maximize every last day of the school year, this episode is for you. Today I’m sharing 4 ideas for meaningful, yet fun things you can do after testing with your students that will keep them engaged and learning right up to summer break. These are simple, no-prep and low-prep ideas that don’t put pressure on you or your students. Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode18 | |||
| 18 Jul 2022 | 31. Student Centered Pedagogy: How to do It | 00:28:31 | |
Do you feel overwhelmed when thinking about shifting to student centered pedagogy? Does the thought of redoing EVERYTHING stress you out? This episode is for you! I am breaking down how simple it can be to shift your current lessons and teaching to be more student centered and I’m sharing tons of tips to help along the way! In today’s episode, I am giving you the ins and outs of how to transition to student centered pedagogy. We talk about 4 changes you can make to your current resources and lessons to make them more student centered, questions to ask yourself to see which changes would work for what lessons, and how to handle parent and student push back when you are making students take charge of their learning. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about all that needs to be done when you go back to school, check out my FREE summer classroom reset challenge to help you get a head start on preparing for the school year. Resources: Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode31 | |||
| 21 Mar 2022 | 14. Combating Senioritis Part 3: Saving the Best for Last | 00:12:27 | |
I’ve saved the best for last! In episode 12 and episode 13 I shared tips for combating senioritis as it creeps up in our classrooms this year. If you missed those episodes, be sure to go back and listen. It is possible to keep your students engaged and keep yourself energized so you can finish the year strong as a high school science teacher. In today’s episode, I will be sharing my number one strategy for setting yourself up for future success, so senioritis won’t be something you dread every year. Now is the perfect time to reevaluate your core sequence and your pacing guides for next school year to set yourself up for success with combating senioritis and spring fever a year from now and every year after that. Check out the show notes for all the resources in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode14 | |||
| 06 Mar 2023 | 64. How to Re-Engage Apathetic Students (and Manage Your Own Apathy!) | 00:26:23 | |
Quarter 3 is a doozy! There is definitely an energy shift after winter break and both students and teachers feel it. Everyone is just drained. So how are we going to get through the rest of the school year and re-engage our students? I’ve got 5 tips to help re-engage your students and YOU in quarter 3. Spring break and the end of the school year seem so far away. We and our students are likely just going through the motions at this point in the school year which means now is the perfect time to make some changes and get them engaged and excited for your class again. You may be thinking that you just don’t have the time or energy to figure out ways to re-engage them but the good news is that you can get them enthusiastic without a ton of extra work on your part.In this episode, I am sharing why you should be connecting with them on a personal level, how a change of scenery can be beneficial, the importance of giving them autonomy, and how to get inspired to do what is FUN! If you tune in and like what you hear on the podcast, I would be so grateful if you would leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. It’s so encouraging to me to read your reviews and it helps other science teachers find the show! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode64 | |||
| 12 Sep 2022 | 39. Organization Tips for Your Science Classroom | 00:32:42 | |
Do you LOVE organizing your space or does the thought of it send you running the other way? Are you thinking there’s no way you can “organize” when you aren’t in a science classroom, you have no storage, or you’re a floater who only has a cart? You all know how much I love all things organization and I am sharing some of my favorite tips and recommendations with you to help make your teaching space (whatever that space may be) efficient and welcoming. I have spent time teaching in several settings and have learned so much about how to best use the space I have. Today, I am sharing some of the things I’ve learned with you! We are looking at how to use the front of your classroom most effectively, suggestions for having an organized turn in area, how to make class necessities easily accessible, and some advice specifically for floaters. PLUS, I’m sharing two bonus recommendations on how to help manage cellphones in the classroom and how to organize YOUR files. Need some help getting your classroom reset, organized, and ready to go? Grab my FREE Classroom Reset Challenge where I walk you through 5 tasks to help get your classroom in order. Resources:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode39 | |||
| 12 Dec 2022 | 52. Why NOT to Assign Work Over Breaks | 00:21:18 | |
Confession time: One of my biggest regrets from my time spent in the classroom is assigning homework over school breaks. Not only did I assign homework over breaks, but sometimes I would even assign projects to cover things we couldn’t get to in class (cringe!). As I spent more time in the classroom, I started to really reflect on my teaching practices and realized assigning work over breaks was not beneficial to me or my students. Today, we’re digging into why you should not assign work over breaks. Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode52 | |||
| 03 Jan 2022 | 3. Midyear Reset Part 2 | 00:21:59 | |
In episode two, I discussed ways to reset the physical classroom space and the way you relate to and manage your students. In today’s episode, I’ll give you two ways you can reset the year personally and professionally and how you can simplify your job so you can enjoy your year both in and out of the classroom. Kick-off the New Year with me by celebrating Cheer for the New Year during the first week in January! Join my list so you don’t miss out on the major deals, fun giveaways, and free resources I’ll be offering during this week: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/challenge/ Check out the show notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode3 | |||
| 21 Nov 2022 | 49. Visuals, Middle School, Maternity Leave, and MORE with Guest Rachael Lasky | 00:51:21 | |
Going through different seasons of life and experiences will definitely change your perspective on teaching. From teaching in a classroom with no windows, sinks, or up-to-date posters to display to taking maternity leave during a sub shortage, our guest today has had a wide range of experiences that have influenced her mindset around teaching. I am so excited to have @the_weird_science_teacher, Rachael Lasky, with us today!
Rachael has such great experience when it comes to teaching middle school science and is sharing amazing wisdom on using visuals for teaching, work/life balance, and so much more! This episode is full of excellent insight, especially for middle school science teachers. Rachael is sharing why she loves teaching middle school science, her experiences and advice for taking maternity leave at the beginning of the school year, how she uses visuals in her lessons, and advice for middle school teachers.
Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode49 | |||
| 16 Jan 2023 | 57. Living and Working in Your Current Season | 00:28:09 | |
As we are getting into the second half of the school year, are you noticing a difference in your energy and priorities compared to the beginning of the school year? Maybe there’s something new going on in your life or you’re entering a different phase with parents or your children. As we move from season to season, it is so important to recognize where we’re at and respect how living in that season may look different than just a few months before. You know I love “The Lazy Genius Way” by Kendra Adachi and have shared some great takeaways from the book in previous episodes. One thing she really focuses on is living in your current season and giving it all your attention without rushing through. This really hit home last year as me and my family went through new seasons every few months as we added another baby to the family. This idea is something that really helped me and I knew I needed to share it with you! Whether you are moving, pregnant or coming back from maternity leave, having a spouse start a new job, or are going through other changes within your family, taking a look at your current season will help you determine reasonable expectations for living in this season. In this episode, we are looking at what to consider in your current season, how to live with respect to nature’s seasons, and why it’s so important to match your expectations with your current season. Resources:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode57 | |||
| 30 May 2022 | 24. A Look Inside the Secondary Science Simplified Course with 14-Year Teacher, Nikki Pryor | 00:52:49 | |
Like many teachers who have been in the classroom these last few years, today’s guest is a passionate educator who found herself exhausted at the end of a long and trying school year. When Nikki Pryor heard me share about the Secondary Science Simplified Course I was offering last summer, she knew it was exactly what she needed. She was ready to take a proactive approach and find a way to simplify her life and stop “chasing her tail.” Now, Nikki is here a year later to discuss how taking the course last summer impacted her. She shares how this course is different from any other professional development she has taken in her 14 years of teaching. She’ll talk about her favorite parts of the course, and some of the things she implemented during the school year that completely changed the dynamics of her classroom. Nikki is currently in her 14th year, teaching science in the public school system of Oklahoma. In addition to being an educator, she's a small business owner, mother of two, and a proud military wife. The Secondary Science Simplified Course opens its doors for enrollment in mid-June, and we’d love to have you join! The enrollment window is only open for 2 weeks, so be sure to join the waitlist so you don’t miss it. I created the course to help teachers practically simplify their jobs so that they could have work-life balance. This is a virtual professional development course where you work at your own pace. While you’re waiting for the doors to open, you can join me for a completely FREE course I’m offering called 3 Secrets to Stress-Free Lab Days. This 1-hour virtual training is all about how to prepare and manage lab days specifically so that you can enjoy them as much as your students do. This free training gives you a chance to experience my teaching style and to see what virtual professional development with me as your teacher is like. Join the waitlist for Secondary Science Simplified Professional Development Course: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/waitlist/ Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode24 | |||
| 31 Jan 2022 | 7. Making 1D Lessons 3D with Skipper Coates of Real Ms. Frizzle | 00:25:38 | |
What’s the difference between a 1-Dimensional classroom and a 3-Dimensional classroom, and how does a 3D classroom benefit our students? That’s what we’re talking about in today's episode. I’m interviewing my very first guest (yay!) and she is an expert in helping other teachers transform their classrooms from 1D to 3D with simple shifts. Skipper Coates started teaching in February of 2008, when a teacher left a note on his desk saying that he was never coming back. A biology major, she was suddenly thrown into the world of Earth and Space Science. It was only a few years later that Skipper started writing her own Earth and Space Science curriculum for Teachers Pay Teachers. She is the mother of three cute kids, and she forces them to do science experiments together for family time. Check out the show notes for all the resources in this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode7 | |||
| 17 Jan 2022 | 5. Engaging Your Students - Without Exhausting Yourself | 00:24:28 | |
Do you find yourself wishing that teaching science could be fun without being exhausting? It's absolutely possible! Labs are one of the main ways we can engage our students in learning, but they require a lot of teacher prep. There are many other ways to get students involved in learning that are highly effective and take some of the workload off of you. In this episode, I share seven simple, low-prep ways to engage students without exhausting yourself. Of course, these are not meant to replace labs, but they are great tools to break up your teaching and keep the learning student-centered. The key to saving time is to put the work back on the students and keep it simple. GIVEAWAY: I’m celebrating the launch of the podcast this month with a giveaway! Two winners will be selected at the end of this month to receive their choice of $100 in store credit to the It’s Not Rocket Science Resource Shop OR an It’s Not Rocket Science Custom RTIC Tumbler and a $30 TpT Gift Card. To enter the giveaway:
Check out the show notes for more resources from this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode5 | |||
| 08 Aug 2022 | 34. Teaching Biology - 4 Things NOT to Do | 00:23:46 | |
Whether you know what classes you are teaching next year already or if you are waiting for your schedule, I am here to help! In the upcoming weeks, our episodes will be content-specific to help YOU walk into this school year with confidence. We are starting today with my personal favorite course, BIOLOGY! In today’s episode, I am sharing four things you should NOT do when teaching biology. We are talking about why you shouldn’t teach macromolecules in an isolated biochemistry unit and what to do instead, why teaching biochemical reactions only on a micro level is challenging to your students, what to do instead of teaching mitosis and meiosis together, and why addressing misconceptions when teaching evolution is important. Secondary Science Simplified has reached over 10,000 downloads and to celebrate, I am giving away a $100 gift card to the It’s Not Rocket Science resource shop and an It’s Not Rocket Science RTIC mug! To enter, just share your favorite Secondary Science Simplified episode on Instagram and tag me before August 15th! It’s that easy! Thank you all so much for your support and for tuning in! Resources: | |||
| 24 Oct 2022 | 45. Using Phenomena to Engage Students | 00:23:52 | |
Using phenomena is a great way to engage your students but it can be so overwhelming trying to figure out what to do or how to get started. If you’re using NGSS or other standards that utilize phenomena, but are struggling to incorporate them in a meaningful way, I’m going to break it down for you! In this episode, we’re diving into engaging students through phenomena. Resources Mentioned:
I want to hear from you! We are coming up on our 50th episode! To celebrate, I am doing an “ask me anything” episode where no topic is off limits. Submit any question you have by DM-ing me on Instagram or send me an email to rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com. Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode45 | |||
| 30 Jan 2023 | 59. From Burned Out to Burned-In with Guest Amber Harper | 00:50:32 | |
We hear about teacher burnout all. the. time. You may even be feeling burnout and exhaustion right now. You are not alone, teacher friend! Whether you feel completely burned out or if you’re just feeling a little blah at this point in the year, our guest, Amber Harper of the Burned In Teacher is here to help!
We’ve been talking about scheduling rest and aligning your expectations with your current season of life but maybe you are still feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. You are not alone and there are ways that you can navigate your way out of burnout.
Amber is so encouraging to those of us feeling burnout and really challenges us to think more deeply about where we are. She is sharing her burnout story, what led her to leave the classroom and come back, what it means to be a Burned-In teacher, and advice for how to take action to change yourself and navigate your way out of burnout.
Amber Harper is a long-time educator, author, speaker, and podcaster. She’s the founder of www.burnedinteacher.com and author of Hacking Teacher Burnout which gives struggling teachers a path to follow as they navigate their way out of burnout. Amber is a Teacher Burnout Coach working with educators to help them grow through their burnout and take their next, best steps toward what they want from their career in education and in life.
If you find yourself feeling burned out and overwhelmed, join the Secondary Science Simplified virtual professional development course waitlist. I created this course specifically for the overwhelmed and burned out teacher and would love to have you next time the course opens so we can help you reduce the overwhelm.
Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode59 | |||
| 03 Jan 2022 | 2. Midyear Classroom Reset Part 1 | 00:18:09 | |
Have you ever had one of those school years where you wanted to start the summer countdown in January? Trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve experienced this myself, but I’ve got good news! There is no student, class, or school year that is too far gone. You can recover! Implementing a mid-year reset in your classroom is a game-changer. You can do a classroom reset anytime, but implementing it during December or January is the perfect time! From bad habits that have been formed, to a class that is impossible to manage, to running at an unsustainable pace, there are 4 strategies you can use to hit the reset button for a fresh start to any classroom. In this episode, I share two of those strategies with you and give you practical actions you can take today to change your classroom dynamic. In episode number three, I will share two more strategies for a successful mid-year reset. Be sure to follow so you don’t miss out. Kick-off the New Year with me by celebrating Cheer for the New Year during the first week in January! Join my list so you don’t miss out on the major deals, fun giveaways, and free resources I’ll be offering during this week: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/challenge/ Check out the show notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode2 | |||
| 28 Feb 2022 | 11. Balancing Multiple Preps with Sam Holcomb of Engineer Does Education | 00:36:56 | |
I am so excited to introduce today’s guest, Sam Holcomb. Sam is sharing tips and strategies from her own experience balancing up to 7 preps at a time! She struggled during her first year trying to do it all, but soon, she began to implement the strategies she talks about today to simplify her life. Now she enjoys helping other teachers eliminate the overwhelm and stress that so many face. Sam Holcomb was an engineer who specialized in lean, efficient systems and project management until jumping headfirst into a lifelong goal of teaching science. After an overwhelming first year as a department of 1 with 7 preps and no education background, she was exhausted. Realizing this overwhelm was extremely common, she knew something had to change. Now, Sam takes her engineering background and helps secondary science teachers create efficient systems, templates, and freedom to enjoy science again! Check out the show notes for all the resources in this episode: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode11 | |||
| 29 Aug 2022 | 37. Teaching Physics and FUN with Guest Michelle Brosseau | 00:38:11 | |
Does the thought of teaching physics for the first time stress you out? Do demos and labs seem overwhelming? My special guest, Michelle Brosseau, is here to give some great advice to new physics teachers! Today, I am joined by an amazing secondary science teacher, Michelle Brosseau. Michelle is sharing 4 tips she has for first year physics teachers, what to do if you’re intimidated by demos and labs, and how she makes grading labs more manageable. She’s sharing some changes she's made throughout the years to engage her students and set them up for success. Michelle Brosseau is a high school Science teacher, specializing in Physics, Earth & Space Science, and making learning FUN. Whether it’s teaching the physics of bubbles, demonstrating drag forces with indoor skydiving, or wearing her astronaut costume (or her velociraptor sweater, or her molecules dress, or her fossils blouse…), Michelle embraces her nerdiness to energize her students’ learning. Michelle has a Professional Master of Education degree, with a Classroom Specialist focus. Michelle weaves her love of Art, Science, and all things nerdy into her educational resources. There is still time for you to submit a 30 second clip on tips to keep every learner engaged in science classes for a chance to be featured on an upcoming episode of Secondary Science Simplified. Check out the details here! Resources:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode37 | |||
| 03 Jan 2022 | 1. The Story of It's Not Rocket Science®️ and Secondary Science Simplified™️ | 00:21:37 | |
Welcome to the very first official episode of Secondary Science Simplified! To kick things off, I’m sharing a bit about who I am, my unexpected journey to becoming a secondary science teacher, the story behind It's Not Rocket Science, and my vision for Secondary Science Simplified. Throughout my years as a teacher, I quickly learned how demanding the job is and how difficult it can be to balance your work and personal life. Now I’m here to show you how you can simplify your life with practical and easy-to-implement strategies! In this episode you’ll hear more about my vision for this podcast, and how you can request episode topics and guests. Kick-off the New Year with me by celebrating Cheer for the New Year during the first week in January! Join my list so you don’t miss out on the major deals, fun giveaways, and free resources I’ll be offering during this week: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/challenge/ Check out the show notes: itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode1. | |||
| 25 Apr 2022 | 19. Collaboration, Classroom Management, Career Changes and MORE with Guest Jamie Whitlock | 00:58:10 | |
When I first started this podcast, I knew I would love to interview my dear friend and past co-worker, Jamie Whitlock. I learned so much from Jamie as her coworker and learned even more from her just through doing this interview, and I am so excited to have her on the show. In this episode, you’ll hear about Jamie’s experience in the classroom as a full time teacher and what she has learned from spending the last four years in other teachers’ classrooms observing and supporting them as an instructional coach. We cover her transition into teaching as a second career, teaching a high stakes EOC-based course. We also discuss working on a team of teachers and how to collaborate with coworkers, even difficult ones or those NOT in your subject area. Jamie provides so much wisdom with regards to whole classroom management strategies as well as garnering respect from students, particularly in the difficult setting of teaching in a post-pandemic classroom. She shares her experience working on her educational doctorate while teaching full time and raising two children and how earning this additional degree has really opened some amazing doors for her in the field of education. Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode19 | |||
| 07 Nov 2022 | 47. 2 Ways That Learning Happens and How to Create a Classroom Culture That Fosters It | 00:23:17 | |
How can we make learning more natural and more meaningful for our students? Simply put, learning happens best through asking questions and making mistakes. If you’re thinking about your classes and realizing that your students aren’t asking many questions and are afraid to make mistakes, this episode is packed with tips for you about how to move students to the center of their learning! We are quickly approaching the “Ask me Anything” 50th episode of Secondary Science Simplified! I want to answer any question that you have - nothing is off limits! Submit your questions by DM-ing me on Instagram or send me an email to rebecca@itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com with the subject line “Questions for Episode 50” by NOVEMBER 8th. Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode47 Resources Mentioned: | |||
| 01 Aug 2022 | 33. 5 Mistakes to Avoid at the Beginning of the School Year | 00:26:38 | |
Setting up for a successful school year starts on day 1. I have made my fair share of mistakes when it comes to starting the school year that made the year much more challenging than it should have been. Learn from my mistakes, teacher friends! In this episode, I’m going to help you avoid the mistakes I have made in the past. I am sharing what I wish I would have done from the beginning of the year that would have made things much easier! I want to help you learn from my mistakes so you can have a more simplified back to school season. Today, we are looking at the most important procedure to have in the secondary science classroom, a simple change that can help you reclaim your time, how to block off time to accomplish your to-do list, and a huge mistake to avoid so you don’t feel drained and overworked. I want to celebrate with YOU! We have reached over 10,000 downloads and to celebrate, I am giving away a $100 gift card to the It’s Not Rocket Science resource shop and an It’s Not Rocket Science RTIC mug! To enter, just share your favorite Secondary Science Simplified episode on Instagram and tag me before August 15th! It’s that easy! Thank you all so much for your support and for tuning in! Resources: Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode33 | |||
| 25 Jul 2022 | 32. Student-Centered Pedagogy: One Way to Start | 00:17:43 | |
Are you thinking that shifting to student centered pedagogy sounds great, but way too time consuming and overwhelming to do this year? If you are ready to make an easy change in order to help your students take more control of their learning and practice critical skills they can use their entire lives, this is an episode you do not want to miss! In the previous 3 episodes, we focussed on what student centered pedagogy is and why you should shift to this type of teaching, as well as practical ways to implement student centered teaching. Today, I am giving you the ONE THING you can easily implement this school year to make your teaching more student centered without added overwhelm, stress, and time. In this episode, we are looking at what project-based learning is, why it is important to use PBL in high school science classes, and how you can get started implementing PBL more easily than you may think. If you just don’t have the time or energy to prepare for PBL, I’ve got you! I have 3 awesome resources for you to simplify your planning! If you are feeling overwhelmed with trying to prepare for back to school, be sure to grab my FREE Classroom Reset Challenge that will walk you through 5 different things you can do to prepare and be ready for the school year! Resources:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode32 | |||
| 14 Nov 2022 | 48. 5 Ways to Reclaim Your Class Time | 00:14:15 | |
It seems we never have enough time to do what we want to do in our class periods. How are we supposed to get labs, demos, lectures, assessments, and more squeezed into a 45 or 90 minute class? The answer: Reclaim your precious class time! You may be wondering how in the world you can do that, so today, I am sharing 5 simple changes you can make so you can cover all that you need to. If you are looking at everything you need to get through and aren’t sure when you’ll have time to do it all, this episode is for you! I am giving you practical and simple changes you can make in your classroom to reclaim your valuable class time. I am sharing the three places time is most often wasted, how procedures are key to reduce wasted time, why you should have an agenda on your whiteboard, the power of timers and bells, and how an efficient turn-in system is a game-changer. It is amazing how much time you can reclaim by implementing these five tips! I want to hear about what you try and how it goes. Send me a message on Instagram and share what changes you are making and if they are helping you! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode48 | |||
| 19 Sep 2022 | 40. How to Reach EVERY Learner in Your Classroom | 00:22:36 | |
As teachers, we know how important it is to reach every student that walks into our classroom. But how do we go about doing that when there is such a diverse group of students in every class? Today, I am sharing 4 tips on how to reach every learner in your high school science classes. Reaching every single one of your students can seem overwhelming but I am here to help give you practical tips to help you do just that. In this episode, I am sharing the importance of getting to know every student as a person, how eliminating homework can benefit you and your students, why you should use a variety of assessments, and the importance of checking your test questions for bias. Our students come to us with so many different backgrounds, home lives, experiences, and preferences but there are simple things we can do in our classrooms to make sure we are reaching them all and making an impact. Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode40 | |||
| 26 Dec 2022 | 54. Your Top 5 Favorite Podcast Episodes of 2022 | 00:17:53 | |
We are one year into the Secondary Science Simplified podcast and I am SO GRATEFUL for each and every one of you! To wrap up year 1 of the show, I wanted to do a recap of favorite episodes from 2022. We’ve covered so many different topics this year and have had some amazing guests on the show! There were a few episodes that were my absolute favorites that I knew I needed to share with you all again and, luckily, my favorites were listener favorites as well! Today, we are looking back at five personal and listener favorite episodes of Secondary Science Simplified. We are revisiting the “Best Episodes of 2022” including episodes on the importance of Prime Times, advice for new science teachers, mistakes to avoid at the beginning of the year, keeping things in perspective when teaching, and a beginning of the year pep talk. I absolutely love hearing from you about the show and getting requests on topics to cover. Please keep the feedback and requests coming by sending me a DM on Instagram! Be sure to join my email list because next week starts the Cheer for the New Year event! This is a week of daily deals on It’s Not Rocket Science resources EXCLUSIVELY for my email list. It is the only sale I do outside of the quarterly sitewide TpT sales and this event gives you the biggest discounts of the year. So join the list and be sure to watch your email every day starting January 1st for some incredible deals on resources. Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode54 | |||
| 15 Aug 2022 | 35. Competency, Classroom Management, Teaching Chemistry and MORE with Guest Zach Matson | 01:23:20 | |
Wouldn’t it be nice to get some honest insights and tips from an amazing chemistry teacher with an INSANE amount of experience? Lucky for us, my high school chemistry teacher is joining me today to do just that! Zach Matson is sharing the great insight and knowledge he has gained in his 20+ years of teaching. We cover a little bit of everything and you are definitely going to walk away with some great tips and feeling more encouraged to take on whatever is thrown your way! In this episode, we are covering everything from what Zach wished he knew his first years teaching to AP Chemistry tips. Zach is sharing his background and how he got into teaching, his advice for new chemistry teachers and what he wished he did differently his first few years teaching, the importance of building rapport for classroom management, tips for doing demos and implementing lab days, and so much more! Zach Matson has been teaching since 2001 and is certified in secondary chemistry, physics, and mathematics. He holds a BS in Chemistry, a BA in Spanish, a BA in Computer Science, an M.Ed from Valparaiso University, and an M.S. in Engineering. He has spent the past 19 years teaching all levels of chemistry in Lexington, Kentucky. If you’re interested in checking out some of the videos Zach mentioned, you can find them on his YouTube channel. Resources: Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode35 | |||
| 10 Oct 2022 | 43. How to Manage Large Classes: What to do When You Have WAY Too Many Students | 00:25:21 | |
If you’re looking at your class roster and feeling absolutely overwhelmed by the crazy numbers you are seeing, you’re not alone! I am seeing so many teachers saying they have 30+ students in their science classes and they have no idea how to make teaching, let alone labs, with that many students, work. If you are one of the teachers that has too many students in your science class, this episode is for you! I’m sharing six tips I’ve learned on how to manage large class sizes. We are going to cover why you should arrange desks into pods, how seating charts are crucial to managing large classes, why you need to include small group work into your lessons, how to use stations for labs with large classes, the importance of procedures, and how to use my favorite whole-classroom management strategy. Plus, I am giving you practical ways to incorporate each one of these tips! Don’t forget to grab your Halloween-themed FREEBIE for biology, anatomy, chemistry, and physics! Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode43 | |||
| 13 Mar 2023 | 65. Considering Switching Schools? 10 Questions to Think Through | 00:30:44 | |
Contract season is quickly approaching, meaning soon, you’ll have to decide if you will return to the same school next year or look for someplace new. If you’re unsure if you will sign or not, I want to help you make this decision. I am sharing 10 things to take into consideration when you are deciding whether to stay at your current school or look for a new school. We are all aware that every school has its issues and that no school is perfect. We also know that every school is very different. That is why I think it’s important to reevaluate whether to stay or move on every couple of years so you can decide if where you’re at is serving you and what’s most important to you in your current season. All schools have their downfalls but I think it’s so important to find a place where you feel supported in your current season of life. That means it may be time to look at your family and priorities and weigh the positives and negatives of staying or leaving your school. If you have any specific questions about this conversation or need support in this decision-making process, PLEASE REACH OUT on Instagram or by email! I am here for you! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode65 | |||
| 20 Mar 2023 | 66. Tips for Teaching at a Public School vs. a Private School | 00:36:09 | |
Are you unsure if you want to teach in a public school or a private school next year? In my experience, there are definitely differences between the two and pros and cons to both and finding which school is the best fit for you is so important. So today, I am sharing tips that I have learned from my experience in both public and private schools to help you wherever you end up next year. I want to help you THRIVE and not just survive in whatever school you teach at so I am sharing my best advice for teaching at private schools and public schools. In this episode, I am giving you 10 tips for teaching in a private school, 10 quick tips for teaching in a public school, and how these tips helped me while teaching at different schools. No matter where you end up teaching next year, I truly believe the most important thing about your happiness and job satisfaction is the support you receive. I hope you find a school that you have good support from your admin, parents, and coworkers and that fits well with your current season of life! Be sure to follow the Secondary Science Simplified podcast on your favorite podcast player! We have some amazing episodes coming up that you do not want to miss! Resources:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode66 | |||
| 27 Mar 2023 | 67. Considering a Teacher Career Change with guest Daphne Gomez, the Teacher Career Coach | 00:38:01 | |
You know I am always here to support you and want to see you thrive in the classroom! I know, however, that even with all the tips, advice, and resources I share, you may still be considering whether or not being in the classroom is the best choice for you. If that’s where you currently find yourself, I want you to feel supported, too. That’s why I am so excited that our guest today, Teacher Career Coach, Daphne Gomez, is here to share some amazing advice for you. It’s that time of year when contracts start coming out and you are deciding what your plans are for next year. You may be set on staying in your current role or you may be considering other options. If you are thinking of exiting the classroom but are unsure where to start, Daphne’s got you! She is sharing what led her to leave the classroom, specific indicators of if it is time to make a shift, examples of types of careers teachers can transition into, advice for what to do if you are ready to leave or starting to consider it, and how she helps teachers who are looking to transition out of teaching.
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode67 | |||
| 03 Apr 2023 | 68. Evaluating Your Teaching Contract | 00:29:28 | |
It’s contract season! Have you received your teacher contract for next year yet? If not, it will likely be coming soon and regardless of if you are staying or not, you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you are on the fence about staying in your current position or leaving, I strongly suggest you think through it in a neutral way without letting fear or exhaustion make the decision for you. One way to do this is to look closely through your teacher contract and determine if it best serves you in this season.
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode68 | |||
| 10 Apr 2023 | 69. Admin Support - WHY You Need to Ask, HOW to Ask, and WHAT to Ask For | 00:35:04 | |
Admin support can completely make or break your job as a secondary science teacher. As high school science teachers, we have so much on our plates already - planning, prepping labs, grading, teaching how many preps, pressure from parents, etc. Without support from admin, this job can be even more challenging. So how can you get support from admin? ASK! That’s right, you need to actually ask for what you need and ask in an effective way. In this episode, we are covering why you need to ask for help, my best tips for how to ask your admin, and ways admin can support you that do not cost money. As always, if something is holding you back from asking your admin for help, reach out to me and I’d LOVE to empower you to ask for the support and resources you need! There is still time to submit your stories for the Teacher Appreciation Week gone wrong episode!. Please DM or send me a voice recording about a time when you received a “gift” or “treat” for Teacher Appreciation Week that we just wouldn’t believe. I’ll be giving away five $10 TpT gift cards to people who share with us. I can’t wait to hear all your stories! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode69 | |||
| 17 Apr 2023 | 70. “It isn’t an Attack on You”: Dealing with Difficult Parents with Guest Zach Matson | 01:13:54 | |
Dealing with difficult parents can be one of the worst things about teaching secondary science. So many of us would love advice on how to handle challenging situations, what to say when issues arise, or how to stop taking things personally from teachers who have been there and figured it out. That is one of the reasons I brought my high school chemistry teacher, Zach Matson, back on the podcast! Zach is a 20 year teaching veteran who is full of amazing insight and advice for high school science teachers and today, he is talking all about dealing with difficult parents. He has had his share of difficult parents over the course of his career and he is sharing some great advice and tips for handling these situations. In this episode, we are talking about how to handle emails from difficult parents, setting boundaries, how to deal with a potentially failing student, and what he has done in cheating situations. Zach will be back again next week talking about admin and coworkers. Be sure to follow or subscribe to the Secondary Science Simplified podcast wherever you listen so you don’t miss it! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode70 | |||
| 24 Apr 2023 | 71. "I'm the Problem, It's Me": Working with Difficult Coworkers and Admin with Guest Zach Matson | 01:11:00 | |
Working with difficult admin or difficult coworkers can make or break a teaching position. Last episode, my high school chemistry teacher Zach Matson joined us to talk all about dealing with difficult parents. He is joining us again today to share all about his experience and insight into dealing with difficult admin and coworkers. Talking with Zach is always so incredible, entertaining, and helpful! In his 20+ years of teaching, he has experienced some difficult situations that he is sharing to help other teachers who may be working with challenging admin or coworkers. In this episode, we are discussing, working with difficult coworkers and in PLCs, advice for how to know when it’s time to move on because of difficult admin, tips for what to look for in admin when interviewing, and his advice for new teachers. We covered so much information in this episode and I know you are going to love this conversation as much as I did! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode71 | |||
| 01 May 2023 | 72. Review Strategies for EOC, Benchmark, and AP Exams | 00:29:34 | |
The end of the year is fast approaching which means that benchmark and EOC exams will be here soon. If you’re anything like me, you HATE reviewing! If you dread review days as much as I do, I have some ideas and tips to help make them a little less painful for you. Today, I am sharing 4 tips for review strategies for your upcoming EOC and benchmark exams. End of the year exams can be incredibly stressful for students and for teachers as student performance can impact your job. I want to help reduce the stress of preparing your students for these exams by sharing tips to simplify this year’s test prep and review. In this episode, I am sharing 2 tips for if you are working on a team and 2 tips for all secondary science teachers. We are diving into how to divide and conquer review topics, the benefits of rotating teachers/students, why you should prepare with as many practice problems as possible, and how to effectively use review stations. Let me know if you’ll be using any of the tips I shared today. I love it and feel so encouraged when you send me a DM on Instagram and share the podcast with others! Resources Mentioned:
Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode72 | |||
| 08 May 2023 | 73. Teacher Appreciation Week Gone Wrong | 00:30:51 | |
Happy teacher appreciation week, my friend! I truly hope that you are being celebrated and shown how much you are appreciated this week! Unfortunately, I know that Teacher Appreciation Week doesn’t always go the way that we hope it would. Sometimes, how we are shown “appreciation” is simply unbelievable and today, we are hearing some stories from listeners about their ridiculous teacher appreciation gifts. I want you to know that you ARE appreciated for all your efforts! So to show my appreciation, I am offering 10% off the It’s Not Rocket Science resource shop for the month of May using code MAYPOD10. This code is stackable so you can use it in addition to any other codes! PLUS, I am doing FREE PD all summer on the podcast! Each week, I’ll be sharing practical, actionable, and specific PD on the Secondary Science Simplified podcast so you can take the information to prepare for next year. I am so excited to share this with you starting next week! Check out the show notes for all resources mentioned in this episode: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode73 Resources Mentioned:
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| 15 May 2023 | 74. My #1 Way to Simplify Future Lab Days | 00:29:01 | |
We are kicking off our Summer Podcast PD with a topic I get asked about most - LABS! There is so much to cover when it comes to labs and how to simplify them. But let’s be honest, you likely aren’t in the headspace at this point of the school year to strategize about how to simplify your lab days. So today, I am sharing the one thing you can do NOW to help simplify every future lab day. In today’s episode, I am walking you through, step by step, how to audit your current labs so you have all the information you need to improve your labs and ensure you are doing the right labs! Be sure to grab the FREE lab audit sheet to help you audit your labs. Do you know a secondary science teacher friend who you want to join you in the FREE Podcast PD? Get your teacher friends together, hold each other accountable, and take action on these bite sized PD episodes all summer! Resources Mentioned:
For all resources mentioned, head to the show notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode74 | |||
| 22 May 2023 | 75. End of Year Classroom CLEANOUT Without the FREAKOUT | 00:16:44 | |
Get out your big black trash bags and label makers, because it’s time for an end of year classroom cleanout! If cleaning out your classroom causes immediate overwhelm (or dread if you’re also tackling the supply closet 🤢) don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Simple systems are my love language, and over the years I’ve managed to get cleaning out a classroom down to a science. In this episode, I’ll will walk you through exactly how to handle your end of year classroom cleanout in a stress-free way. I know you’re ready for summer, but I promise if you take the time to do this well, your future self will thank you! Do you know a secondary science teacher friend who you want to join you in the FREE Podcast PD? Get your teacher friends together, hold each other accountable, and take action on these bite-sized PD episodes all summer! Resources Mentioned:
For all resources mentioned, head to the show notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode75 | |||
| 29 May 2023 | 76. How Did You Do This Year? | 00:22:59 | |
If you’re anything like me, you want to just make it through the last couple weeks of school and say GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE to another school year! But, before you close up your classroom for the summer, I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect on the school year and ask yourself, “How did I do?” In this episode, I’m sharing six questions to ask yourself to help you reflect on the year. Once you reflect on these questions, WRITE them out and put them in your pencil drawer or paper clip them to your planner so when you return in August, it is the first thing that you see! Remember to grab the calendar for the next few months of our FREE Podcast PD and share it with a science teacher friend and encourage them to join you in a summer filled with practical, relevant, and SIMPLIFIED PD. Resources Mentioned:
For all resources mentioned, head to the show notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode76 | |||
| 05 Jun 2023 | 77. 5 Myths You Might Believe About Your Work Email | 00:30:21 | |
Are you an email addict feeling like you need to constantly be checking your inbox and responding immediately to anything that comes in? Guilty!! I like to think of myself as a recovering email addict. For years, I let email take way too much of my time and energy that I should have been focusing on other things. I want to help you break away from the constant email checking so you can have a much healthier outlook on your work email as you head into summer! In this episode, I’m debunking 5 lies you might be believing about your work email and 5 practical ways you can combat them so you can spend your time focusing on more important things. Plus, I’m sharing some of my favorite tools to help with limiting the time you spend in your inbox! If you have a teacher friend who needs some help setting email boundaries, share this episode with them! Better yet, send them the FREE Podcast PD so they can join in on all the goodness that’s coming this summer!
For all resources mentioned, head to the show notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode77 | |||
| 12 Jun 2023 | 78. Our LEAST Favorite Topics to Teach & How We Approach Them with Guest Sam Holcomb of Engineer Does Education | 00:58:30 | |
Let’s be honest, we all have certain topics that we have to teach but just absolutely dread teaching. Whether it’s because they are boring, unnecessary, or just depressing, we just don’t want to teach them! I’m sure you know exactly what topics you would skip over if you could and you are not alone, teacher friend! Sam Holcomb of Engineer Does Education is joining me today to chat about our least favorite topics to teach. Be sure to reach out to your secondary science teacher friend and encourage them to join you in the FREE Podcast PD! It’s the perfect way to get your teacher friends together and take in some bite-sized PD episodes all summer! Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Sam:
Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode78 | |||
| 19 Jun 2023 | 79. 4 Ways to Use Your Summer Well | 00:23:37 | |
Summer is in full swing and I could not be happier! It’s time to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the much needed time off. But if I’m honest, summer has always been a time of tension where I struggled with feeling guilty when I’m enjoying the fun because I’m not preparing for the next school year and also feeling guilty while I was working because I should have been enjoying summer more.
Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode79 | |||
| 26 Jun 2023 | 80. Strategizing Your Sequence: Curriculum Design Part 1 | 00:32:17 | |
You asked for it so I’m going to give you what you want! One of the most frequent requests I get is for my curriculum design process. What better time to break down my process for you than during our Summer Podcast PD!? We are kicking off our curriculum design series by starting with the absolute first thing you need to do when designing a curriculum to use in your classroom. Whether you are trying to figure out what to teach in a prep you have nothing for, or you have curricula for all your preps, you are going to walk away from this series knowing how to write a curriculum for you to use in your own classroom because I am breaking down my process step-by-step. In this episode, I am sharing what this series is and what it is not, how to best use this series to achieve your goals, the importance of strategizing your sequence, and what action step you can take today to get started creating your own curriculum. Not sure how to strategize your sequence? Think through these 10 questions:
Resources Mentioned:
Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode80 | |||
| 03 Jul 2023 | 81. Analyzing Your Aims: Curriculum Design Part 2 | 00:21:43 | |
We are moving on to step two in our curriculum design mini-series! If you did not complete the first step in the process about strategic sequencing, you NEED to go back and start there before tackling step two. This week, we are going to dive into analyzing your aims. Although this isn’t the flashiest or most fun part of the process, it is crucial to designing your curriculum.
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| 06 Jul 2023 | 82. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Parts 1 and 2 | 00:19:41 | |
Have you been following along with our Curriculum Design mini-series and need just a little bit more support and context to complete parts 1 and 2? I’ve got you covered, teacher friend! I know the process of designing a curriculum is A LOT, but if we work through it together, step-by-step, it will make it much more manageable and will be so beneficial in the end!
Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode82 | |||
| 10 Jul 2023 | 83. Forming Your Foundation: Curriculum Design Part 3 | 00:22:28 | |
We are at the tipping point in our Curriculum Design mini-series! I am so excited that you have worked through this process with me up to this point. So far, we have covered strategizing your sequence and analyzing your aims. If you haven’t done that, be sure to complete those steps before moving on to step 3, forming your foundation.
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| 13 Jul 2023 | 84. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 3 | 00:17:32 | |
Lecture is the foundation when designing a curriculum. Now I know that may make some of you not very happy, but it’s true. However, when I say lecture is the foundation, I do not mean that it’s my top priority or what I spend most of my time doing in the classroom. When we talk about foundation, I mean the baseline of which I build my curriculum on. To give you a better understanding of how I build my curriculum off my foundation, I am sharing how I use my foundation of lecture notes so that my whole class isn’t lecture.
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| 17 Jul 2023 | 85. Building Out Your Backbone: Curriculum Design Part 4 | 00:16:15 | |
We have made it to part 4 of the Curriculum Design mini-series! The first three parts weren’t exactly “fun,” I get it! But this is the point in the design process where we get to start being creative, and the process becomes a bit more interesting! BUT, if you have not done steps 1 through 3, it is crucial that you complete them before moving on to part 4 - building out the backbone of your curriculum!
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| 20 Jul 2023 | 86. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 4 | 00:16:52 | |
Ready for more help with building out the backbone of your curriculum? I’m ready to help! I know that this part might feel hard, and that is totally okay! Although it is one of my favorite parts of designing curriculum, I know that is not the case for everyone. Coming up with instructional activities and resources is not necessarily an easy thing to do, but I will gladly share the behind-the-scenes thought process I go through to help YOU come up with ideas for your own curriculum.
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| 24 Jul 2023 | 87. Aligning Your Assessments: Curriculum Design Part 5 | 00:16:02 | |
Huge CONGRATULATIONS, teacher friend! You made it to the final part of our curriculum design mini-series! I am so incredibly proud of you! Even if you only completed part 1, you still made progress, and small progress is better than no progress! We have spent the last few weeks walking through the first four parts of curriculum design, but today, we are diving into how to align your assessments.
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| 27 Jul 2023 | 88. PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION: Part 5 | 00:16:34 | |
YOU DID IT!! It is the last episode of our Curriculum Design mini-series and we are wrapping it up with a little extra support with what I think is the most challenging assessment to write, the end-of-unit tests. Now, let’s be clear, no assessment is easy to write, and writing tests is NOT for the faint of heart. Of course, I want to give you as many helpful tips as I can, so in today's episode, I am giving you a glimpse into how I write my end-of-unit tests.
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| 31 Jul 2023 | 89. Classroom Management in a Post-COVID World with Guest Casey O’Hearn | 00:43:41 | |
Tomorrow is August which means that many of you are gearing up to head back to school. What better way to get back into the school mindset than to talk about classroom management? We know classroom management is so important to have a successful class, but these post-pandemic times are making things TOUGH! I have not personally been in the classroom since before the pandemic, so I invited Casey O’Hearn to join me today to share all about his post-COVID classroom management.
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| 07 Aug 2023 | 90. Classroom Management Philosophy for Secondary Science Teachers | 00:30:59 | |
The new school year is upon us, and to help you prepare, I am spending the whole month of August covering all things classroom management. Now, I know classroom management looks different for every teacher, but I hope that sharing my personal philosophy and tried and true strategies will help you develop your own.
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| 14 Aug 2023 | 91. My Top 5 Classroom Management Routines and Procedures for High School Science Teachers | 00:28:52 | |
Dealing with behaviors and problems in the classroom is inevitable, but our goal is to prevent as many as we can before they even happen. A simple way to achieve this is by implementing routines and procedures!
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| 21 Aug 2023 | 92. 5 Ways to Have Precise Pacing and Tight Transitions in your Secondary Science Classroom | 00:22:03 | |
My message in last week’s episode was all about how to be proactive rather than reactive using routines and procedures. Continuing with the classroom management series, I believe another way to be proactive in your classroom is through the pace of your class and how you handle transitions. In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing 5 practical tips to keep your class moving with efficiency.
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| 28 Aug 2023 | 93. Simple Strategies for Classroom Management | 00:24:25 | |
I loved talking all about classroom management this month, and we have finally made it to the last episode of the series! The biggest takeaway I wanted to convey was the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, and a way to do that is through simple strategies implemented in your classroom. In this last episode, I’m sharing my final five strategies for effective classroom management this school year.
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| 04 Sep 2023 | 94. How to Deal with Cheating in Your High School Science Classes | 00:28:53 | |
To wrap up our Summer of Podcast PD, we’re ending with a series on grading practices. And one of the hot topics that’s particularly relevant in secondary classrooms is the act of cheating. This is a topic that I feel very passionate about, so I’ve invested in my own research to find the best strategies and solutions. In today’s episode, I’m sharing what you can do to best prevent it, how to respond when it does occur, and specific strategies to use in your classroom.
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| 11 Sep 2023 | 95. How to STOP Grading Everything | 00:25:04 | |
As teachers, we know that our time is valuable and we try to create that perfect work-life balance. However, time dedicated to instruction, engaging activities, and other teaching-related tasks can consume our time in and outside the classroom. But you can decrease the amount of time you spend on one task that will save you more time and energy, which is grading!
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| 18 Sep 2023 | 96. Why I Stopped Assigning Homework (And 6 Surprising Results) | 00:21:21 | |
Remember the days when you were in school and thought, When I’m a teacher, I’m NEVER going to do this! But then you become a teacher and do exactly what you said you weren’t going to do. Don’t worry, I’m guilty of this too. As soon as I became a teacher, I followed suit with the cycle of assigning homework in my class. However, I had a mindset shift to where now I’m a huge advocate for not assigning homework.
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| 25 Sep 2023 | 97. 6 Grading Tips That Changed My Life | 00:33:23 | |
Over this past month, I’ve been sharing my thoughts, practices, and strategies surrounding the topic of grading. You’ve probably realized how passionate I am about this topic because it’s something that I believe will give you more balance in your life between school and your personal life. And who doesn’t want that?! To wrap up this series, I’m sharing my own personal grading strategy and tips to help accomplish my grading goals.
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| 02 Oct 2023 | 98. 5 Tips for Teaching Biochemical Reactions in Your Biology Class | 00:27:27 | |
Welcome to fall, y’all! We just wrapped up our Summer of Podcast PD, where we tackled curriculum design, classroom management, grading strategies, and so much more. But with a new season comes a new series. With so many of our recent topics involving general classroom tips, I decided it was time to focus on more content-specific topics for each science discipline. So, biology teachers, this one’s for you! I’m sharing biology’s most difficult topic and tips for teaching it in your classroom.
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| 09 Oct 2023 | 99. How to Teach the Nervous and Endocrine Systems in Your Anatomy Class | 00:21:07 | |
We are starting week two of our difficult topics to teach with the different science disciplines. Last week’s episode, Episode 98, focused on biology and biochemical reactions. But this week, I’m focusing on anatomy! Since there’s a lot of content to cover in this subject and each teacher differs in what they choose to teach, that makes it difficult to decide what the most difficult topic to teach is. With the help of my listeners, I’m focusing on five tips on how to teach the nervous and endocrine systems in your anatomy class.
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| 16 Oct 2023 | 100. Your Questions Answered: Grading, Challenging Behaviors, Leave, Favorite Labs, Supporting ELs and MORE! | 01:06:49 | |
I’m doing a happy dance because it’s my 100th episode! Y’all, I can’t believe I’ve been supporting and sharing my thoughts, ideas, and resources with you for almost two years. Just like when I celebrated 50 episodes, I’m doing another special “Ask me anything” episode. Resources Mentioned:
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| 23 Oct 2023 | 101. 6 Tips for Teaching Stoichiometry in Your Chemistry Class | 00:19:32 | |
When I decided to do this series, I knew exactly what I was going to discuss when it came to the difficulties of teaching chemistry. Students get overwhelmed by all the math and more intense content that comes with this science discipline, particularly teaching stoichiometry. However, there are several things you can do to ease their stress and make this unit fun for your students. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing 6 tips for teaching stoichiometry in your chemistry class.
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| 30 Oct 2023 | 102. Tips for Teaching Waves and Kinematics in Your Physics Class With Guest Laura Preiser | 00:27:07 | |
All month long, I’ve been diving into the most difficult topics to teach in each of the science disciplines, and we have finally made it to the last discipline - physics. I love all things science, but physics is not a discipline I have a lot of experience in. So instead, I decided to bring on a listener of the podcast who is knowledgeable and has experience teaching physics. Laura Preiser is my guest on this episode and is sharing the two topics that are difficult for teachers and students and tips and advice for teaching each.
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| 06 Nov 2023 | 103. Authentic Assessments: How to Assess Students in a Way That Actually Matters | 00:27:26 | |
If you ask any student what they didn’t like about school, I bet assessments would be toward the top of their list. But what if you could create assessments that students actually enjoyed and liked? Okay, well, maybe that’s going too far, but you can definitely create assessments that are the best representation of their knowledge. I call those authentic assessments. In today’s episode, I’m going to share why I incorporate non-traditional assessments and four practical tips on how to implement them in your own classroom.
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| 13 Nov 2023 | 104. Using Summative Assessments to Prepare Students for Standardized Tests | 00:19:43 | |
After we teach a unit, what typically comes immediately after are summative assessments, and there are a lot of different types. Last week, I talked about authentic assessments, which still assess student learning but in a non-traditional way. And even though I value that type of assessment, I still believe in taking traditional tests. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how to use your unit test to prepare your students for taking any future standardized test.
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| 20 Nov 2023 | 105. What Happened When I Stopped Assigning Formal Lab Reports | 00:22:26 | |
As science teachers, or teachers in general, we tend to have the mindset of doing things in our classroom the way we were taught, the way our department runs things, or what our colleague down the hall does. But if you really think about the reason behind what you’re doing, what you normally do might change. That’s exactly what happened with formal lab reports in my classroom. In this episode, I’m sharing why I ditched formal lab reports and how that decision impacted me and my students.
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| 27 Nov 2023 | 106. Standards-Based Grading, Citizenship Grades, Motivation and MORE With Guest Jennica Harrison | 00:59:28 | |
I love talking about science content, curriculum, engaging activities, and practical strategies you can implement in your own classroom. But when my audience inquires about topics I’m not so sure about, I bring in experts who can share their knowledge. That’s exactly what I did when it came to discussing standards-based grading. My guest on today’s episode, Jennica Harrison, shares her perspective, experience, and implementation of standards-based grading in her secondary science classroom. Resources Mentioned:
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| 04 Dec 2023 | 107. NGSS and Standards-Based Grading With Guest Boni Hamilton | 00:58:55 | |
You all know that I want to bring you as much information and perspectives on a topic as possible. With last week’s episode on standards-based grading being a new idea and way of grading for some of you, I wanted to bring on another teacher who has years of experience implementing this in her classroom. Boni Hamilton, a friend and experienced teacher, is sharing how to integrate NGSS and standards-based grading in both a middle school and high school science classroom.
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| 11 Dec 2023 | 108. 5 Must-Have Routines and Procedures for Secondary Teachers | 00:30:03 | |
Happy December, y’all! The one word that describes my life right now, which might describe yours as well, is frantic. So, I thought for the rest of the month, we’d revisit episodes from this past year that can either be good reminders for you during this last month of school or ideas you need to think about or reinforce when you return from break in January. In today’s episode, we’re listening to the third most popular episode, which focuses on five classroom management routines and procedures for your secondary classroom.
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| 18 Dec 2023 | 109. 10 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Reflect Over Your Course Sequence | 00:32:53 | |
As I mentioned last week, I’m taking the last weeks of December to replay my top three episodes of the year based on your listens and downloads. I was shocked that this original episode was number two, but so excited because it’s something I’m passionate about, which is curriculum design, specifically strategizing your sequence.
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| 25 Dec 2023 | 110. How to Manage a Classroom of Apathetic Students | 00:43:12 | |
It’s officially the last week of 2023, so I wanted to end the year with the most listened to episode from the year. It was no surprise to me that my interview with Casey O’Hearn was the top episode because of his approach to teaching, his philosophies, and his outlook on how to interact and connect with his students. Adapting to teach in a post-pandemic world, Casey shares his approach to classroom management post-COVID and how you can implement his ideas.
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| 01 Jan 2024 | 111. Priorities and Boundaries in the New Year | 00:24:46 | |
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you were able to unplug over this winter break and recharge so you can tackle the last semester of the school year. Since the start of a new year is the perfect time to hit the reset button, I really wanted to start the year off by assessing where you are in life, what your priorities are, and the types of boundaries you should have.
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| 08 Jan 2024 | 112. What to Do When You Have No Energy - Systems for the Home | 00:25:19 | |
With the demands of teaching, we often come home with no energy but are faced with the demands of our home life as well. And just like we have routines put in place to make things easier at school, we can do the same when we’re at home. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing my best systems for the home that will help you maximize your energy from the day.
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| 15 Jan 2024 | 113. What to Do When You Have No Energy - Truths for the Classroom | 00:12:17 | |
If you are anything like I was in the classroom, this time of year is when I often felt the most drained, with little energy. The excitement of break seems so far away; it’s dark, and the days seem never-ending. And while I can’t change any of those things for you, I can give you some encouragement to make it through. Similar to last week’s episode, where I shared five systems for the home, in today’s episode, I’m sharing five truths for the classroom.
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| 22 Jan 2024 | 114. How to Bounce Back After You Mess Up | 00:27:53 | |
Have you ever made a mistake in your classroom? Or handled a situation differently that caused more problems or regretted how you handled it? I am raising my hand high in the air! Even though it feels like you’re the only teacher something like this has ever happened to, in reality, you’re not alone.
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| 29 Jan 2024 | 115. How to Act Confident When You’re Not | 00:15:58 | |
If you’re a beginning teacher or teaching a new prep for the first time, everyone’s advice is always to fake it till you make it! We’re conditioned to believe that you need to project confidence to show your students that you’re qualified to be their teacher. But is that narrative what’s best for your students? I’ve had many conversations with teachers about how to act confident when you don’t feel that way, and my answer may surprise you.
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| 05 Feb 2024 | 116. Behind Schedule? What to Do and How to Prevent It in the Future | 00:32:00 | |
No matter what subject or grade you teach or how long you’ve been teaching, you have been behind schedule at least at one point in your career. Trust me, I’ve been there, and it is stressful! Especially if you have an end-of-year test that you’re preparing for. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, in today’s episode, I’m sharing ways to assess why you’re behind schedule and providing practical ways to prevent it from happening in the future.
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| 12 Feb 2024 | 117. How to Prep for a Long-Term Substitute Who Doesn’t Teach Science | 00:20:16 | |
We’ve all had someone who isn’t trained in our subject area be a substitute in our class before, but only for just a day or two, and we survived. But when it’s for an extended period of time, that’s when planning can get challenging. This episode is more than for those going on maternity leave. Most of us don’t anticipate when we need to go on extended leave, but it’s critical to think about and plan for it. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing how you can effectively plan for a long-term substitute who isn’t trained to teach science.
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| 19 Feb 2024 | 118. CER: What It Is, and Why I Never Explicitly Taught It | 00:09:43 | |
If you’ve been in education long enough, you know that new acronyms and ideas are constantly being tossed out there. Once these ideas are presented, schools and districts want them implemented, which results in teachers stressing about incorporating them into their lessons. But in reality, teachers are already doing a lot of these ideas; they’re just called something different. This is exactly what happened with CER. So, in today’s episode, I’m explaining what CER is and why you’re already doing this in your science classroom.
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| 26 Feb 2024 | 119. Increasing Retention - How to Get Students to Remember Dense Topics | 00:26:40 | |
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - the reason I do this podcast is for you! I love sharing ideas, strategies, activities, and curriculum with you that help make your science classrooms more successful. This is why I reached out to you to hear what questions you had for me or for your science classrooms. So, for the next few months, I’ll be answering all your questions, starting today. This important question that was mentioned a lot revolved around increasing retention and how to get students to remember dense topics in your science curriculum.
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| 04 Mar 2024 | 120. How to Cut Your Grading Time in Half | 00:26:26 | |
Everyone is trying to achieve a work-life balance, but for teachers, that simple concept is actually very complicated. One of the reasons teachers struggle so much with having a life outside of school is the amount of grading that we have to do. While I’m biased, I believe secondary science teachers have the most grading, especially with the labs and having multiple preps. I want you to be able to manage and achieve this, so in today’s episode, I’m sharing four tips that will cut your grading time in half.
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| 11 Mar 2024 | 121. Burned Out? When It’s Time to Make a Change | 00:28:28 | |
It’s no secret that teachers are constantly overwhelmed and stressed and often don’t feel appreciated for their work. Especially during this time of year, it can be hard to determine if the exhaustion you’re feeling is just temporary or a feeling that won’t go away. Trust me, I’ve been exactly where you’re at and want to help. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing my process to see if the burnout you’re feeling is fixable or if it’s time to make a change.
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| 18 Mar 2024 | 122. How to Nail Your Teacher Job Interview + 3 Mock Lesson Ideas | 00:33:37 | |
In last week’s episode, I asked you to examine your current job situation to see if there were more things causing you stress than things that brought you joy. One solution might be changing your scenery, such as switching schools or even districts, which would mean a teacher interview is in your future. Or even if you’re a beginning teacher looking for their first teaching job, this episode is for you!
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| 25 Mar 2024 | 123. What to Do When You Care More Than Your Students Do | 00:28:41 | |
As educators, we decided to make this our career because we love to help people and care about students and their success. However, just because that’s our personality and mission, unfortunately, doesn’t mean that’s how our students feel. One of the resounding themes from the survey I sent out was how do I get my students to care as much as I do? I’ve heard this a lot, so I wanted to address it on the podcast. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing why this seems to be the case and what you can practically do to move forward and keep serving your students.
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